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Fishing Reports

December 18th, 2019: Cocoa Beach Fishing Report & Forecast

By December 18, 2019December 27th, 2019No Comments

COCOA BEACH and INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

Schools of black drum are roaming the Indian River lagoon again near Cocoa Beach this week. They are moving around a lot, so be prepared to pole or trolling motor after them as they ease their way along. We’ve been using live shrimp as well as our old standby the Saltwater Assassin 4-inch sea shad tails on a 1/4-ounce jig head tipped with a piece of crab flavored Fish Bite. I find that the best colors for the drum are the Pimp Daddy, Electric Chicken, or Natural Glow colors. Most of the drum are running 18 to 25-pounds.

TITUSVILLE and ROCKLEDGE

In the Indian River near Titusville and Rockledge the dropping water levels have the trout and redfish action slowing somewhat this week. Look for these fish to hold around areas with ground cover (grass and weeds) or anywhere that schools of mullet are congregating. At dawn topwater plugs like the Rapala Skitterwalk and Storm Chug Bug continue to work for us. Later in the morning and through mid day the previously mentioned Assassin sea shad tails are all you will need to get them to strike on most days.

As we move farther into the month of December we will find that cooler temps will drive some of these redfish, black drum, and trout into deeper holes and canals where we they will hide from the north winds for the next few months. You can bet that Captain Justin and I will be searching these places to find the best schools for you all when your on the boat with us.

PORT CANAVERAL and COCOA BEACH

Pompano, whiting, spanish mackerel, jacks, weakfish, mangrove snapper, tripletail and bluefish are striking on most days. Sand fleas and cut shrimp will be best for the first two species. The others will strike live shrimp, pilchards, jigs, and spoons while fishing along the surf break in the Canaveral Bight area north of Port Canaveral.

We have landed some “odd” fish while out on some trips in Port Canaveral lately as well

SEBASTIAN INLET and PALM BAY-INDIAN RIVER LAGOON AREA

As we move farther into the winter months the Indian River waters will cool into the 50’s and lower 60’s.  The near-shore waters that come through the inlet will normally be in the mid to upper 60’s, which is much warmer than the lagoon waters at this time of year.  We like to fish the incoming tide phases near Sebastian to take advantage of this warmer water, and the fish that “turn on” when the tide is right.  A mixed bag of species is available on most days on this incoming tide and much like Port Canaveral we get bluefish, ladyfish, jack, flounder, redfish, pompano, and spanish mackerel.  Sometimes snook will hit live baits like majorra, croakers, shrimp, or pinfish for us here as well.
The other species will hit nylon or bucktail jigs or orange, yellow, or pink.  Goofy jigs work well too especially near the back of the inlet.
In the flats from Palm Bay to Wabasso there are a variety of fish species possible including bluefish, pompano, jack, and trout, especially on the deeper flats.  Small to lower slot sized snook and redfish are holding along the mangrove covered shorelines where sun exposure warms the water just a few degrees. we target these fish with soft plastic jerk baits or suspending plugs like a Rapala Twichin’ Minnow or Subwalk will usually get them to strike if we fish these lures along the mangroves.
Our customers, or as we like to call them our extended “Fineline Fishing Charter family,” often ask if we fish during the winter months, our response is a heck yeah!  This time of the year can be really good when the weather cooperates!

MEMORY STIX RODS FISHING APP

You’ve all fished with our semi-custom line of rods while on our Skeeter bay boats and now Captain Justin and I have a place where you can find out all of the info you are looking for concerning our fishing charters, Catch a Memory Outdoors radio show, and Memory Stix fishing rods. It an app for your phone. We had one designed and built to help you get notification about what we are doing from time to time.

So download it from Apple’s App Store or Google Play today and keep up with everything that we have going on here concerning the fishing in east central Florida.

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